The AFL coaching merry-go-round has continued with John Barker quitting his role at St Kilda to link up with premiers Hawthorn and Barry Mitchell leaving his post as coach of the Hawks’ VFL side Boxhill to join Fremantle.

Mitchell, who was sacked by Carlton at the end of 2007 after falling out with then Blues coach Denis Pagan, will be put in charge of the Dockers’ midfield.

The 42-year-old, who played 221 games with Sydney, Carlton and Collingwood, will work closely with former West Perth coach Todd Curley, who signed on with the Dockers earlier in the week.

“I’m looking forward to devoting all my energies to an AFL team and doing all I can at Fremantle to help further develop what is obviously going to be a young list,” Mitchell said.

“I’ve been working with younger players for the past five or six years, so I’m really excited about working with the younger guys at Fremantle and, hopefully, starting to climb up the ladder.”

Barker spent two years with the Saints under coach Ross Lyon but said the chance to return to the Hawks, where he spent the majority of his playing career, was too good to turn down.

“It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of the coaching group at the Saints after finishing my playing career,” Barker said.

“Ross Lyon gave me a great opportunity to work with a strong forwards group and I’ll always be grateful for this.

“The romance of returning to the club that I played most of my career for was too good to refuse.”

Barker retired as a player in 2006, following a career spanning 168 games for Fitzroy, Brisbane and Hawthorn.

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